THE DARKDEEP

THE DARKDEEP

Everyone in Timbers knows Still Cove is off-limits, with its creepy Beast sightings and equally terrifying legends. But when a bullying incident sends twelve-year-old Nico Holland over a cliff and into Still Cove’s icy waters, friends Tyler and Emma—and even Opal Walsh, who usually runs with the popular kids—rush to his rescue…and discover a mysterious island hiding in the murky, swirling mists below.

Though the island appears uninhabited, the kids can’t shake a feeling that something about it is definitely not right. Their suspicions grow when they stumble upon an abandoned houseboat filled with all sorts of curiosities: odd-looking weapons, unnerving portraits, maps to unknown places, and a glass jar containing something completely unidentifiable. And in the boat’s lowest depths churns a dark, deep secret.

As the group delves into this mysterious new clubhouse, their lives begin to intertwine in weird and dangerous ways. For something ancient has awakened…and it can detect not only their wishes and dreams, but also their darkest, most terrible imaginings. Do they have what it takes to face the shadowy secrets lurking within their own hearts?

Told from alternating points of view, this pulse-racing tale from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs is the start of a high-stakes, thrilling series about friendship and believing in yourself—and each other.

Bookseller Reviews!

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, your very dreams can become nightmares!”
–Gerard Villegas, Warwick’s Books, La Jolla CA

“This middle grade novel has everything; four good friends and a lurking bully; a mysterious, seemingly forgotten lake; and a houseboat that holds more than one secret. When Nico, Opal, Tyler, and Emma discover the Dark Deep they must make a decision; keep it to themselves? Or tell someone, their parents, the police, anyone. This is a very satisfying read about friendship and bravery with just the right amount of scary fantastic creatures. I can’t wait to see what happens next!” –Anne Holman, Kings English, Salt Lake City UT

“With the creep factor set to perfect, you’ll plunge right into the Darkdeep from the first chapter. While the comparisons to Stranger Things are unavoidable and apt, Condie and Reichs have created a unique, spine-tingling world. The Darkdeep will leave readers eager for book 2 in this eerie middle-grade series.” –Buffy Cummins, Second Star to the Right, Denver CO

When you live in a small town there tends to be an old urban legend that you can’t just ignore. Still Cove is that legend. Nico and his friends have stumbled onto something mysterious and quite possibly dangerous. Soon they are having fun and experimenting with their new discovery. It doesn’t take long for things to turn dark. Nico didn’t mean for any of it to happen, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that Nico and everyone else need to figure out exactly what they have woken and how to stop the monster of The Darkdeep before it destroys them and their beloved town. Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs have brought us a fast-paced, heart-racing story! –Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

“I read The Darkdeep in two gulps. Compulsive stuff. . . . A narrative vortex was in force, not unlike the dangerous well in which the Darkdeep itself lives. Kids will absolutely love this story for its drive, completely relate-able characters, snappy dialogue, and big dollops of mystery and evil. Fun!” –Kenny Brechner, DDG Booksellers

Other Outstanding Reviews!

Popular authors Condie (the Matched trilogy) and Reichs (Nemesis, 2017) combine their talents in this unsettling psychological thriller for a middle-grade audience. After 12-year-old Nico falls off a cliff while trying to rescue his quadcopter, his friends Tyler and Ella, along with Opal—caught between popularity and feeling semiresponsible for Nico’s dire situation—stumble upon a hidden island, a mysteriously abandoned houseboat, and a swirling well of water that is home to something dark and possibly deadly. As the friends deal with personal experiences and navigate their various homelives, they also start to discover some nefarious effects of their experimentation with the well: figments begin appearing around the island in greater frequency and with increasingly murderous intent. But what happens when their deepest fears start to manifest, and they have no idea how to defend themselves? Condie and Reichs have developed an imaginative and ultimately uplifting narrative filled with dark and frightening components, in-depth character development, and a deliciously ominous ending that will leave readers craving the next volume of this planned duology. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The YA powerhouses behind the best-selling Matched trilogy (Condie) and Virals series (Reichs) are taking the middle-grade set by storm, and the publisher is pulling out all the promotional stops. — BOOKLIST, Rob Bittner

Veteran writers Condie (Matched) and Reichs (Genesis) team up to deliver an action-packed Goonies-like adventure set in the Pacific Northwest. Trying to recover a drone lost to an act of bullying, Nico slips at the edge of a fog-covered cliff and tumbles into Washington State’s Still Cove. Nico’s friends, worried about the beast that allegedly lurks below the water, are relieved to find not only a boat to search for their friend, but also Nico himself, on an island within the cove—one they’ve never heard of. In the center of the island lies a dark pond, a houseboat floating in its center. In the bowels of the houseboat sits a well of thick liquid dubbed the Darkdeep, which beckons and submerges the friends one by one, then spits each into the pond and animates their minds’ contents. Initially, the frivolous figments disappear quickly, but as the creatures become more dreadful—and more solid—they begin to cause real damage and threaten more than just the strange island. A basic beginning moves into a satisfying narrative arc, perfect for reluctant readers who appreciate things that go bump in the night.– Publisher’s Weekly

Collaboration between bestselling authors is bound to produce high expectations, and this mash-up of “Goosebumps”-meets-The Goonies certainly delivers. Still Cove is a mysteriously foggy area just outside the mill town of Timbers. Twelve-year-olds Opal and Nico avoid the place at all costs due to rumors of “the Beast,” but after a run-in with bully Logan, the friends are forced to brave the area. What they find is incredible: a mystical water portal that sucks you in and spits you out, bringing your imagination to life—literally. When the “figments” begin to get out of control, what began as a fun game suddenly turns deadly. Nico, Opal, and their friends must find a way to work together to contain the phenomenon they refer to as the Darkdeep. The four friends at the heart of the story have distinctive personalities, with Nico and Opal narrating. The magical aspect of the Darkdeep runs parallel to the fears and worries the characters hold about their lives. Nico’s father petitioned to protect an endangered owl species in the woods, resulting in job losses at the town’s mill and resentment from the community. Friction between Nico and Logan, the mill owner’s son, and Opal, who’s family profited from the situation, must be overcome before they can tackle the figments and the Darkdeep. VERDICT: Swiftly paced and peppered with wit, this darkly entertaining tale is sure to engage horror fans.—School Library Journal

Author Praise!

“Take a deep breath. You won’t have time to again once the lightning-paced action begins. Kids trapped on an island of dark secrets . . . Nightmare creatures come to life . . . I’m not kidding. This book left me breathless!” —R.L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

“Move over, Stranger Things. . . . The Darkdeep will pull you into an irresistibly eerie world beyond your wildest dreams–and nightmares.” —Melissa de la Cruz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series

“The wonder of The Darkdeep is that it flourishes both as a kinetic thrill-ride, straddling the real and unreal . . . but also as subtle testament to all the twists and turns of young friendship. The stakes are huge, the action high-throttle, but what readers will remember most is its big, emotional heart. Reichs and Condie have teamed up to create an addictive new series that feels both classic and modern, a worthy heir to The Goonies and Stranger Things. Kids won’t get enough of The Darkdeep . . . A truly spectacular adventure.” —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil

“Brimming with chilling mysteries and heart-stopping twists, The DarkDeep will draw you into its shadows and keep you captivated… if your heart hasn’t already been taken by the lovable cast of unlikely heroes first! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” —Alexandra Bracken, New York Times bestselling author of The Darkest Minds

“The Darkdeep has all the makings of a classic: achingly real friendships, the kind of insidious terror that’s a touch too believable, and heart-stopping stakes with each chapter. This is, hands down, the most fun I’ve had while being deeply terrified.” —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Aru Shah and the End of Time

“A perfect blend of Stranger Things and The Goonies, The Darkdeep is a delicious, rollicking adventure you won’t be able to put down.” —Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of Furthermore

“Fast-paced, thrilling, and full of mystery—The Darkdeep will keep readers at the edge of their seats!” —Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Wolf

GENESIS

GENESIS

Synopsis: Orphan Black meets Lord of the Flies in this blistering sequel to the instant New York Times Bestselling Nemesis.

Noah Livingston knows he is destined to survive.

The 64 members of Fire Lake’s sophomore class are trapped in a place where morals have no meanings and zero rules apply. But Noah’s deaths have trained him- hardened him- to lead the strongest into the future…whatever that may be. And at any cost.

Min Wilder knows that survival alone isn’t enough.

In a violent world where brute force passes for leadership, its tempting to lay back and let everyone else battle it out. But Min’s instincts rebel against allowing others to decide who lives and who dies. She is ready to fight for what she believes in. And against whomever might stand in her way.

Genesis Receives Kirkus **STARRED** Review!

★ “[A] stuffed tome with a turning wheel of power structures that endlessly entertains…[t]he author crafts a heck of a page turner, chronicling Mins and Noah’s emotional and physical journeys, alternating between their perspectives each chapter. Violence, tactics, and politics crackle through the novel…A sequel looms, but readers will be thoroughly satisfied with this entry’s contents. A crackling good yarn and excellent sequel.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Other Outstanding Reviews!

“Nemesis was a page-turner, and Genesis has plenty of fevered action and startling surprises, especially as the book nears its conclusion…Fans of the first book will certainly want to read this and look forward to the trilogy’s conclusion. ”—Booklist

“[T]his dark sequel to Nemesis…reads like a technological retelling of Lord of the Flies”—VOYA

Author Praise!

“Reichs knows exactly how to mix action, suspense, and characters into a breathless read. This is one thriller that will keep you up into the night ” —Marie Lu, #1 NYT bestselling author

“Equal parts adventure, mystery, and heart, Genesis is a gripping, mind-blowing story that leaves you begging for more. I loved it!” —Danielle Paige, NYT bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die

NEMESIS

NEMESIS

Synopsis: Orphan Black meets Lord of the Flies in this riveting new thriller from the co-author of the Virals series.

It’s been happening since Min was eight. Every two years, on her birthday, a strange man finds her and murders her in cold blood. But hours later, she wakes up in a clearing just outside her tiny Idaho hometown—alone, unhurt, and with all evidence of the horrifying crime erased.

Across the valley, Noah just wants to be like everyone else. But he’s not. Nightmares of murder and death plague him, though he does his best to hide the signs. But when the world around him begins to spiral toward panic and destruction, Noah discovers that people have been lying to him his whole life. Everything changes in an eye blink.

For the planet has a bigger problem. The Anvil, an enormous asteroid threatening all life on Earth, leaves little room for two troubled teens. Yet on her sixteenth birthday, as she cowers in her bedroom, hoping not to die for the fifth time, Min has had enough. She vows to discover what is happening in Fire Lake and uncovers a lifetime of lies: a vast conspiracy involving the sixty-four students of her sophomore class, one that may be even more sinister than the murders.

Nemesis Receives Kirkus and Booklist **STARRED** Reviews!

★ “Min is not your average 16-year-old. Every two years on her birthday, she’s murdered. And every two years she comes back, completely unharmed. She’s tried to escape the inevitable but knows it’s only a matter of time before the man in black returns for her. Now things are getting worse, with an asteroid headed toward Earth. . . [j]ust when she’s found that classmate Noah is having the same strange experiences she’s tried to keep hidden. . . . Hooked readers will be tapping their fingers waiting for the sequel.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

★ “There are many overworked adjectives for action books: page-turner, fast-paced, intense. For this book, multiply all of them. Reichs truly keeps readers guessing throughout, with twists on early every page.”—Booklist (starred review)

Other Outstanding Reviews!

“Reichs’s new novel offers readers a glimpse into the final moments of a preapocalyptic world, as seen through the eyes of two radically different teens…Min is a self-assured female protagonist, and Noah is a refreshingly complex young man… VERDICT: This fast-paced exploration of the teen condition is recommended[.]”—School Library Journal

“[I]t’s [Min’s] story that will . . . draw readers back to see where the cliffhanger ending leads.”—BCCB

“Reichs pulls everything together at the book’s end, and a plot twist few will see coming should leave readers eagerly awaiting the second book in this duology.”—Publishers Weekly

Author Praise!

“Addictive as a puzzle, moving with breakneck speed, Nemesis had me guessing until the very end. Try to predict what Nemesis is. I dare you.” —VICTORIA AVEYARD, #1 NYT bestselling author of RED QUEEN

“Reichs builds plots like the Swiss build watches. Nemesis is a fascinating, twisty page-turner that will keep surprising you until its final page. I loved it.” —RANSOM RIGGS, #1 NYT bestselling author of MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

“Reichs keeps you at the edge of your seat without compromising depth and heart. Prepare to think about these characters long after you’ve closed the book.” —ALLY CONDIE, #1 NYT bestselling author of MATCHED

“My favorite thriller since The Maze Runner—dark, fast-paced and intense.” —MELISSA DE LA CRUZ, #1 NYT bestselling author of THE ISLE OF THE LOST

“Born from the imagination of an apocalyptic mastermind, Nemesis is an addictive read filled with mystery, conspiracy, and terrifying possibilities. I can’t wait for the sequel!” —KAMI GARCIA, #1 NYT bestselling author of THE LOVELY RECKLESS

“My favorite kind of thriller: smart and action-packed, with twists and turns galore. You won’t be able to put this book down.”—RENÉE AHDIEH, #1 NYT bestselling author of THE WRATH AND THE DAWN

“Nemesis disarms every expectation and lures you down a dark, gripping road. You think you know what’s coming . . . You don’t.” —ALEXANDRA BRACKEN, #1 NYT bestselling author of THE DARKEST MINDS

“An utterly thrilling read with a deviously clever twist I never saw coming!” —CARRIE RYAN, NYT bestselling author of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH

THE VIRALS SERIES

I co-author the New York Times bestselling Virals series with my esteemed colleague, Kathy Reichs. The sixth installment, TRACE EVIDENCE, is now available. There are also four Virals novellas — SHIFT, SWIPE, SHOCK, and SPIKE — available exclusively online through Nook, Kindle, iTunes and wherever e-books are sold.

TRACE EVIDENCE

Synopsis: Fans of the Virals series will be thrilled with this companion volume that includes three short stories originally published as eSpecials as well as an all-new, never-before-seen Virals adventure! Shift, Swipe, Shock and the new story SPIKE — set after the events of the last full length book, Terminal — give further glimpses of the Virals’ world as they work with Tory’s famous great aunt, Temperance Brennan, to solve more mysteries, take look at where it all started before they became Virals, and get to the bottom of an attempted sabotage at Kit and Whitney’s wedding.

TERMINAL

Synopsis: The Virals are back—but they’re not the only pack in town anymore. Terminal finds Tory Brennan and the rest of the Morris Island gang tracking a pack of rogue Virals who call themselves the Trinity. The new pack was infected by a strain of supervirus created by Tory’s nemesis and sometimes-crush, Chance Clayborne, who accidentally infected himself, too.

These red-eyed Virals have openly challenged Tory’s pack for domination of Charleston, and they’ll stop at nothing to bring their rivals down—even if that means giving them up to a shadowy government agency intent on learning the secret to the Virals’ powers. Surviving it all is going to test the limits of the gang’s abilities.

In the riveting conclusion to the Virals series, Tory and the others are nearing an impossible choice—and the ultimate showdown.

Review: The final installment of mother-and-son Virals series finds Tory and her friends at a turning point: If they don’t take action soon, their world will change beyond their control. Tory and her fellow Virals are happy with their life on an isolated island in Charleston harbor, commuting to school on the mainland, participating in sports—and spending their free time communing with Tory’s pet wolf cub and exploring their own virus-generated wolflike traits. But just when it seems that life is settling down, they find that they are not unique; there’s another pack of Virals in town, determined to mark the territory as theirs and theirs alone. And worse is yet to come: It seems that a secret government agency is tracking both packs down, fully intent on capturing them and learning all their secrets…even if that means subjecting them to invasive surgery. But worst of all, their own independent research tells them the virus has changed their cellular makeup and may even threaten their lives. This series conclusion has all the ingredients that made the first four installments so easy to read: solid character development, a viable plot incorporating both teenage angst and teenage adventure, and high stakes readers can believe in. A worthy coda to a gripping multivolume adventure. (Thriller. 10 and up)

EXPOSURE

Synopsis: When twin classmates are abducted from Bolton Prep, Tory and the Virals decide there’s no one better equipped than them to investigate. But the gang has other problems to face. Their powers are growing wilder, and becoming harder to control. Chance Claybourne is investigating the disastrous medical experiment that twisted their DNA. The bonds that unite them are weakening, threatening the future of the pack itself. The Virals must decipher the clues and track down a ruthless criminal before he strikes again, all while protecting their secret from prying eyes. And everyone seems to be watching.

Review: “The fourth volume in the Virals series is as fast-paced as the previous outings about four teens bound together by special heightened senses after being exposed to a virus carrying wolf DNA. Oddities in their powers—surging and blinking at the worst possible moments—keep them on their toes as they investigate the kidnapping of three Charleston, South Carolina, prep school classmates. The low country atmosphere of historical homes, sand dunes, and magnolia-lined lanes adds great atmosphere, while a twist at the end offers a new plot thread begging to be expanded. Fans will eagerly await the next installment.”

CODE

Synopsis: Tory Brennan, the great-niece of Dr. Tempe Brennan, and the Virals return for a third thrilling adventure on Loggerhead Island.

The Virals are put to the ultimate test when they find a geocache containing an ornate puzzle box. Shelton decodes the cipher inside, only to find more tantalizing clues left by “The Gamemaster”. A second, greater geocache is within reach – if the Virals are up to the challenge. But the hunt takes a dark turn when Tory locates the other box – a fake bomb, along with a sinister proposal from The Gamemaster.

Now, the real game has begun: another bomb is out there – a real one – and the clock is ticking.

SEIZURE

Synopsis: Ever since Tory Brennan and her friends rescued Cooper, a kidnapped wolf pup with a rare strain of canine parvovirus, they’ve turned from regular kids into a crime-solving pack! But now the very place that brought them together – the Loggerhead Island Research Institute – is out of funding and will have to shut down. That is, unless the Virals can figure out a way to save it!

So when Tory learns of an old Charleston legend about a famous she-pirate, Anne Bonney, whose fortune was never found, she can’t believe her luck – buried treasure is exactly what she needs to save the Institute on Loggerhead! Trouble is, she and her friends aren’t the only ones looking for it. And this time, the Virals’ special powers may not be enough to dig them out of trouble…

VIRALS

Synopsis: Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage “sci-philes” who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot – if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer’s scent.